Congress Slams Expulsion of 2 MLAs in Telangana Assembly, Says Will Move Court

New Delhi, March 15: The Congress today described as "unconstitutional" the expulsion of two of its legislators from the Telangana Assembly and said it will move court against the decision. Congress leader and former Union minister S Jaipal Reddy accused Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao of running the government in a "dictatorial manner".

"He is violating the constitutional right of legislators. It is true that the Assembly has its powers but their use should be within limits," he said, adding that, "How can the assembly do these things". Reddy slammed the decision to expel the Congress MLAs as "unconstitutional".

He said the party would approach the court against the decision of the Assembly Speaker to expel the MLAs. Two Congress MLAs were expelled on Tuesday from the Telangana Legislative Assembly and 11 others, including the opposition leader, suspended for the ongoing budget session, a day after the "unruly" incidents during the Governor's address to the joint sitting of the state legislature.

In the Legislative Council, six members of the Congress were suspended till the end of the session. Alleging that the disciplinary action was unilateral, the two expelled members -- Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and S A Sampath Kumar -- began a 48-hour 'Satyagraha' at the party's state headquarters.

Reddy said the two MLAs, who have been disqualified from membership, also have their rights and the nation and media must see what is happening in the state. On Rao's move to form a third front, Reddy dubbed it as a "stunt" to "befool" the people of Telanagana.

"KCR is known as a stunt master in Telangana. This is not a front but is a stunt. He is losing steam and talking about these things to cover up his failures," he alleged. The former Union minister said he does not see any space for a front other than those of parties supporting the BJP or the Congress.